The focus of the automobile industry is on the SUV because it has become the largest segment. The luxury SUVs, today have been stuffed with so many features that it is a surprise they don’t choke. In fact SUVs today can do any thing except fly. And very soon even that may become possible. Here comes the AVX Aircraft Company’s new airborne SUV, a sort of Hummer with retractable wings.
Originally designed for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the AVX does everything a Hummer can do with the added ability of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capability. It is designed as a four person all terrain vehicle which can be converted from road to flight mode in just a minute. It is capable of cruising at the speed of any light aircraft and features automated takeoff/landing flight control.
It has a range of 250 nautical miles on a full tank of fuel and a full payload of 1,040 lbs. It can cruise at an altitude of 10,000 feet with a full payload. It is capable of doing 80 mph on the ground and can hit a top speed of 140 mph in the air. There is a huge potential demand for a vehicle like this in the luxury segment.
